Miami vs Florida State NCAA 2013

ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE MATCHUP

#3 MIAMI HURRICANES (-5.5) VS FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES 

This will be the second meeting between these ACC rivals this season. In the first matchup the Hurricanes (19-3) got the best of the Seminoles (13-10) winning 71-47 at home. This time around Florida State welcomes Miami into the Donald L. Trucker Center. However, I don’t expect to see a result much different from the last. Tip off is scheduled for 7PM EST tonight, and will be broadcasted on ESPN2. 

Miami has been doing all the little things right to grab wins this season. They enter this matchup on an 11 game win streak, and I expect them to extend that tonight. They are showing no signs of slowing down, look no further than the fact they have been climbing the associated press top 25 ranking since week 12. They have gone from #25 -> #14 -> #8 -> #3 in the last 4 weeks, and are voted the 3rd best team in the country right now for good reason.

In order for Florida State to compete with Miami in this matchup they will have to find open looks, make good passes, limit turnovers, but above all penetrate the Hurricanes rock solid defense. However, I don’t see the Seminoles succeeding in any of these areas. Miami’s defense looks nearly impenetrable, during their 11 game win streak they are allowing an average of 57 points per game, and have allowed only one opponent to score more than 70 points. That one opponent was NC State, who offensively is one of the most talented in the country averaging 78 points per game. As for the Seminoles they will need a whole lot of luck to reach anywhere near that total. They have been scoring only 67.2 points per game this season, and rank 184th in that category nationally.

Watch for Sophomore Shane Larkin, and Senior Durand Scott to play an integral part for Miami in this game. Larkin is third on the team averaging 13 PPG, and first averaging both 4.3 assists and 2.2 steals per game. As for Scott, he leads the team in scoring with 14 PPG, while both these guys lead the Hurricanes in minutes per game.  

With the spread estimated to be -10 in Miami’s favour before its release, I will gladly take the generous -5.5. Although the Hurricanes have only won four NCAA tournament games in their program history, I expect this could be the team that changes all of that. Look for them to continue to roll against Florida State tonight, winning big once again. 

TRENDS 

MIAMI 

• 15-3 against the spread in all lined games this season
• 6-1 against the spread in road games this season
• 8-1 against the spread versus conference opponents this season